India’s The National e-Governance Division (NeGD), set up by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), has formed a partnership with the Indian Ports Association (IPA) to accelerate digital transformation within the country’s shipping industry. This collaboration aims to address digital gaps in the port and shipping sectors, eliminate logistics fragmentation and modernize outdated practices.
“This strategic partnership aims to drive digital transformation in India’s maritime sector by integrating NeGD’s technical expertise with IPA’s deep insights into the maritime sector (ports, shipping, etc.) and logistics industries at national and international levels,” India’s Ministry of Electronics & IT said in a statement.
“Key areas of focus include advanced software development, systems integration, capacity building and the adoption of new technology“, the statement read.
The partnership aims to build a strong framework to optimize logistics systems, improve operational efficiency and modernize the port’s ecosystem. This initiative also creates a technology-driven shipping industry digital ecosystem by promoting seamless integration and collaboration between stakeholders.
Through this partnership, both NeGD and IPA aim to address long-standing challenges, such as insufficient digital infrastructure in the port and shipping sectors.
The collaboration envisions a future where ports across India are connected, using real-time data and analytics to streamline operations, reduce processing times and increase supply chain efficiency. This partnership is set to enhance India’s maritime capabilities and is in line with the national goal of becoming a global leader in digital transformation of port operations.
As per Maritime India Vision 2030the country’s shipping sector plays a critical role in its overall trade and growth, with 95% of the country’s trade volume and 65% of trade value occurring through maritime transport.
With a 7,500 km long coastline and 12 major ports along with 187 minor ports India is becoming a key hub for shipping and transshipment. By utilizing technology, digitizationand renewable energy, the government aims to modernize ports, making them safer, smarter, more secure and more sustainable. The proposals include expanding capacity in existing ports, developing new and maritime clusters and increasing port efficiency by adopting ground-breaking technology. Through these initiatives, the government aims to improve multimodal connectivity in ports and increase the share of coastal shipping and inland waterways in the overall transport system.
A global technological superpower
India has embraced emerging technologies and take advantage of technological advances to become a global superpower. Last year, India approved over $1.24 billion for the IndiaAI mission. The financial infusion aims to boost the country’s AI ecosystem, innovation and entrepreneurship. Prime Minister Narendra Modi the government also intends to exploit artificial intelligence (AI) to achieve its Viksit Bharat (Developed India) target by 2047leveraging emerging technologies such as AI and blockchain which key catalysts for growth.
“In 2024, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) spearheaded key initiatives to promote India’s digital growth, focusing on AI, cyber security and skill development. These efforts aim to make technology more accessible, boost innovation and strengthen India’s position on the global technology stage, ” MeitY said in one statement.
MeitY has also constituted an inter-ministerial committee with secretaries from Department of Telecom (DoT), Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR), Department of Science and Technology (DST), Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) and NITI Aayog as members and secretaries, MeitY as convener.
The committee will study best practices on the government’s role in supporting their domestic robotics industry and propose a way forward to foster a comprehensive ecosystem centered on robotics, including research, design, manufacturing, prototyping and use in manufacturing. The document has been put out for public consultation.
MeitY has also enlisted The Indian Cellular and Electronics Association (ICEA) and consulting firm Bain & Company are to complete a detailed strategy report for the Asian powerhouse to reach an ambitious production value of 500 billion dollars in electronics by 2030.
Watch: Blockchain is much more than digital assets
title=”YouTube video player” frameborder=”0″ allow=”accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share” referrerpolicy=”strict-origin-when-cross- origin” allowfullscreen>
